Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The free travel scheme allows elderly people and those with disabilities to be independent, which is very important.

If Fianna Fáil had, when it was in government, taken the time to review some of the many policies it had in place, then perhaps we would not be in the mess in which we find ourselves. I am of the opinion that everything should be reviewed. That reviews have not been carried out in certain areas has led to major problems. We have all been approached in our clinics and informed about people who were not entitled to them using companion passes to travel on trains. This matter has been brought to my attention on many occasions and I have raised it previously in the House. It is extremely important that the free travel arrangement is retained for the benefit of people throughout the country because it serves them in the best way possible. I am of the view that the motion before the House is a charade and I am sorry that our colleagues on the Opposition benches saw fit to introduce it.

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